BattlefieldsFlodden — Scottish Tweed Crossing at Coldstream 1513
Tudor

Flodden — Scottish Tweed Crossing at Coldstream 1513

1513
Northumberland, England
Era
Tudor
Battle Type
Pitched Battle
Location
Northumberland, England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Forces
Not recorded in historical accounts
Forces
light English border resistance
VS
Victor
Not recorded in historical accounts
Forces
James IV with c.30,000-40,000 Scots
Outcome
Scottish army crossed into England and seized border castles; advance to Flodden position
The Battle

History & Significance

James IV crossed the Tweed at Coldstream Ford on 22 August 1513 with the largest Scottish army ever assembled — estimates range from 30,000 to 60,000 men with a modern artillery train. The crossing was contested by English border levies but the sheer scale of the Scottish force swept resistance aside. James then seized the English border castles of Norham, Etal, and Ford before moving to Flodden Hill to await Surrey.

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